Not everyone was laughing at Wednesday’s new “South Park” episode, “A Boy and a Priest,” which took on child molestation within the Catholic Church.
The episode features Butters developing a relationship with the parish priest, and jokes like this: When Randy calls Steven to warn him that the boys are missing and he heard they went camping with a priest, Steven responds, “Camping with the priest? Should we call the police or buy some condoms?”
The Catholic League called the creators of the Comedy Central animated series “cowards” for their take on the topic.
Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on last night’s episode of Comedy Central’s “South Park”:
The October 3rd episode of “South Park,” titled “A Boy and a Priest,” portrayed molesting priests as pedophiles. This is factually inaccurate: almost all the molesters–8 in 10–have been homosexuals. Therefore, the cartoon-victim characters should have been depicted as adolescents, not kids.
In Hollywood, the creators of “South Park,” Trey Parker and Matt Stone, are seen as courageous. They are really cowards. It takes courage to tell the truth.
The group then posted the email address of Steve Albani, Comedy Central’s senior vice president of communications. The network declined to comment on the League’s statement. A rep for Parker and Stone did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
The Catholic Church abuse scandal isn’t the only touchy subject “South Park” has tackled so far in its 22nd season. Last week, Season 22 debuted with an episode titled “Dead Kids,” in which the townspeople treated the only person who cared about a school shooting like she was crazy. You can read a recap of that episode right here.
12 Leprechauns in Movies and TV for St. Patrick's Day, From 'Finian's Rainbow' to 'South Park' (Photos)
"The Luck of the Irish" (1948) Tyrone Power plays a reporter who travels from Ireland to New York, with a leprechaun at his side as a servant and guide.
"Darby O'Gill and the Little People" (1959) This Disney film, which marked one of Scotsman Sean Connery's first major Hollywood roles, focused on an Irish caretaker's attempt to capture the king of the leprechauns.
Disney
"Bewitched" - The Leprechaun (1966) Of course the witches of Bewitched encountered other magical creatures on the long-running sitcom.
"Finian's Rainbow" (1968) Francis Ford Coppola directed this musical fantasy, starring Fred Astaire as an Irishman who steals a leprechaun's pot of gold and emigrates to the U.S.
"Twilight Zone" - The Leprechaun Artist (1986) This Season 1 episode of the 1980s reboot follows three teenagers who catch a leprechaun and are granted three wishes.
"Getting Lucky" (1990) In an Aladdin-like twist, a leprechaun in a beer bottle grants a teen three wishes -- including a date with the hot cheerleader, of course.
"Leprechaun" series (1993-) Warwick Davis played an evil leprechaun in the first film in the slasher-horror franchise, which has so far spawned seven sequels, including 2000's "Leprechaun 5: In the Hood" featuring a rapping Davis.
"The Luck of the Irish" (2001) A teenager (Ryan Merriman) battles an evil leprechaun for a gold charm in this Disney movie.
Disney
"South Park" - Imaginationland (2007) After Cartman bets the gang that he's seen a leprechaun, they do in fact find one -- who warns them of a terrorist threat.
Comedy Central
"The Simpsons" - many episodes Leprechauns have been recurring characters throughout the series' run.
Fox
"Red Clover"/"Leprechaun's Revenge" (2012) This Syfy movie, which had multiple titles, stars Billy Zane as a sheriff battling a killer leprechaun.
Syfy
"Artemis Fowl" (2020)
This fantasy movie, based on Eoin Colfer's best-selling kids series, features a reconnaissance division known as the LEPRecon that tracks down fairies who wander where they shouldn't.
Disney
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If you need a leprechaun fix for your St. Patrick’s Day coronavirus quarantine, these movies and TV shows will do the trick
"The Luck of the Irish" (1948) Tyrone Power plays a reporter who travels from Ireland to New York, with a leprechaun at his side as a servant and guide.